How to Create a Weighted Animal to Improve Calming Strategies by Thomas Stevens, OTR/L Kids Place West Pediatric Occupational Therapist Deep pressure can be very calming for children who have a hard time with self-regulation and attention to tasks. For many kids, bear hugs, weighted blankets, or weighted vests are tools that get this type…
The Role of Physical Therapy in COVID-19 Recovery by Pamela Guevarra, PT, DPT, CCI, Cert. D.N. AzOPT Buckeye Physical Therapist Researchers and healthcare professionals continue to learn more each day about the coronavirus that has uprooted our daily lives. While more is still to be learned, one thing for certain is the role physical therapy…
We are so thankful for the many provider offices who participated in our 12th edition of the AZOPT & Kids Place Pumpkin Challenge. This has been a challenging year, and we truly appreciate the fun and exciting distraction. You truly blew us away with your artistic creativity. Everyone who participated is a winner – because the…
Ergonomics for Remote Working More people than ever are working from home and/or sitting at a desk throughout the day. With such a sudden change, you may not have an ideal desk set up. This can lead to poor posture throughout the day. What is ergonomics? Ergonomics is an applied science concerned with designing and…
Maintaining Attention During Remote Learning By Kristi Knight, OTD/S Kids Place Student Occupational Therapist Online school can be hard for any child, especially if that child has a short attention span due to ADHD, developmental delay, or traumatic brain injury (TBI). Helping your child maintain focus on their schoolwork proves to be difficult for many…
Pitt Hopkins Syndrome Awareness by Lauren Bacsalmasi, DPT Kids Place Central Pediatric Physical Therapist Pitt Hopkins is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a gene called TCF4 in chromosome 18. While this disorder is considered to be very rare, diagnosis is becoming more common with increased access to genetic testing. It is associated with other disorders…
Awareness is Key to Eliminate Stress-Induced Tension by Cassidy Cooney, DPT AzOPT Goodyear Physical Therapist Have you been stressed lately? Honestly, I know that I have. These past months have been epic in regard to changes in lifestyle and the face of society in general, and whether we are aware of it or not, stress…
Brain Breaks for Virtual Learning by Kristen Henderson, M.S., OTR/L Kids Place West Pediatric Occupational Therapist For families across Arizona, virtual learning is our children’s’ new way of life. A child’s main occupation is to learn through play and movement, which can be tricky during this time of online learning. Try some of these brain…
Ask the Therapist: Am I Confusing my Child by Speaking More Than One Language? by Pauline Munoz, CCC-SLP Kids Place Speech and Language Pathologist Families who speak more than one language at home are often worried their children may develop a speech or language delay. This is because of their fear that the child may…
